NOVEMBER 2010:

Stephen Mullin, Econsult Senior Vice President, voices his opinion about the impact of an increase in wage taxes with The Morning Call writers Scott Kraus and Jarett Renshaw in their article about Allentown's proposed increase in their wage tax. (November 20, 2010)
  Wage Tax Hikes Can Bite Back (The Morning Call )    (PDF)     (HTML)

Kevin Gillen has been invited by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce to to join the distinguished panel of industry experts at the 2011 Economic Outlook Breakfast. Presented annually in partnership with Firstrust Bank, Wednesday, January 12th from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. This year’s featured speaker is Jim Cramer host of CNBC’s Mad Money. The breakfast offers attendees an informed perspective on the region’s economic competitiveness and the issues which could impact the business community in the coming year.

Econsult co-authored “The Economic Value of Protected Open Space,” on behalf of Green Space Alliance and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Diane Mastrull’s article elaborates on real world benefits. (November 17, 2010)
  Study Finds Open Space a Tangible Benefit (Philadelphia Inquirer)    (PDF)     (HTML)

Link to all reports, press releases and other links about the project.

Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alan J Heavens reports on condo sales in the third quarter 2010.  Kevin Gillen, Econsult Vice President, shares his Philadelphia home prices data.  (November 14, 2010).
   Quarterly Philly Condo Sales Still Strong

The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (RDA) released a study written by Econsult Corporation, the Penn Institute for Urban Research and May 8 Consulting suggesting a reformed Land Management System.  The study finds that vacant land in Philadelphia imposes property value loss of at least $3.6 billion and $20 million in annual maintenance costs.  (November 10, 2010) 

Link to all reports, press releases and other links about the RDA Land Use Policy and Land Management System.   

Dick Voith, Econsult Senior Vice President, will appear on WHYY’s Radio Times, Monday, November 15, 2010 to discuss the newly released report on Vacant Land Management in the City of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (RDA) study written by Econsult Corporation, the Penn Institute for Urban Research and May 8 Consulting suggests a reformed Land Management System. We will post the podcast when it is available.  
  Battling Blight & Vacant Properties: Philadelphia's Unwelcome Real Estate Legacy (Radio Times)     (PDF)  (HTML)    (MP3)

Econsult co-authored “The Economic Value of Open Space in Southeastern Pennsylvania,” on behalf of Green Space Alliance and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.  A Press Conference announcing the findings in the report will be held at the Valley Forge National Park on November 16, 2010. 
   Invitation to Press Conference on the Economic Value of Open Space in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Econsult’s Philadelphia Housing Price Indices for Q3 2010, prepared by Vice President Kevin Gillen, were released November 3, 2010 and are available at http://www.econsult.com/2010_Q3.htm. Previously published indices and reports are available at http://www.econsult.com/quarterly_phila_house.htm.

OCTOBER 2010:

Lee Huang, Econsult Corporation Director, participated in Citizen’s for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) and the Coalition for Philadelphia’s Riverfronts (CPR) report release teleconference on October 27, 2010.  PennFuture and CPR released Econsult’s study about the potential benefits of a fully connected waterfront greenway in Philadelphia.  Mr. Huang was quoted in Capitol Recap on October 28, 2010 by Jason Gottesman about Econsult’s role in the report.  Both the Capital Recap, as well as Econsult’s full report and other items are available at Econsult’s full page link below. 

Link to all reports, press releases and other links about Connecting Waterfront Greenway in Philadelphia.

Econsult Associates, Adam Ozimek and Daniel Miles received notice that their paper was accepted by the Stata Journal for publication. The paper is titled: “Stata Utilities for Geocoding and Generating Travel Time and Travel Distance Information.” It will most likely be published in Q1 2011. (October 27, 2010)

The Center City District was awarded a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER II) Grant for the Dilworth Plaza & Concourse project. Econsult performed an analysis for the CCD in support of their application. (October 19, 2010)
   Link to Center City District Press Release (Octiber 19, 2010)
   Link to Center City District Fact Sheet

The Washington Post, OPINION page features an article written by Econsult Senior Vice President and Principal Dick Voith.  The link below is entitled:  “Why now is a good time for government to borrow and invest.” (October 15, 2010)
   Why Now Is a Good Time for Government to Borrow and Invest

Econsult’s Housing Price Data was cited by Vernon Clark, in a Philadelphia Inquirer article on the off-campus student housing renaissance at Temple University on North Broad Street.  (October 15, 2010)
   New Temple Student Housing Stirs a Renaissance West of Broad Street

Peter Angelides, Econsult Vice President, has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance as Caucus Primary Juror of the Business Caucus.  (October 12, 2010)

Econsult is pleased to announce that Stephen Mullin, Senior Vice President and Principal, has been appointed as co-chair of the Urban Issues Forum of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) District Council of Philadelphia.  The Urban Issues Forum is one of eight major council forums, responsible for developing ideas and programming around each of ULI Philadelphia’s major initiatives and smaller events that take place throughout the year.  (October 5, 2010)
   Press Release, Urban Land Institute, October 5, 2010

Jersey Shore House Price Indices, just released by Econsult Vice President Kevin Gillen, are discussed at length by Philadelphia Inquirer real estate staff writer Alan Heavens.  (October 3, 2010)
   Shore Home Prices Still Falling

SEPTEMBER 2010:

Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alan J Heavens reports on how foreclosure sales affect home prices across the country.  Kevin Gillen, Econsult Vice President, shares his Philadelphia home prices data.  (September 30, 2010)
   Smaller Percentage of Q2 Distressed-home Sales

Econsult President, David Crawford, Ph.D. appeared on Fox 29’s “10 O'Clock News” commenting on the ongoing stalemate between the Neshaminy (PA) School District and the union representing its teachers.  Dr. Crawford’s interview appears at approximately 3:00 minutes. (September 23, 2010)
   http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=6efda7ad-90e0-468f-8f1e-3771a259f2e5

Econsult’s report on the City of Philadelphia’s utilization of minority, women and disabled business enterprises in City contracts is featured in the Philadelphia Business Journal by PBJ staff writer Athena D. Merritt.  Econsult will provide more information about all of these studies it performed on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.  (September 16, 2010)  
   Report: Philadelphia City Contracts for Minority-owned Companies Drop

Econsult Senior Advisor, Dan Gundersen, will serve as a national expert to assist a White House Task Force with disaster recovery efforts related to the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf. He was on the first team of five experts coordinated by the National Incident Command/ Economic Development Administration and International Economic Development Council to travel to the Gulf to review business conditions and assess short and long term economic growth strategies for Gulf communities. The team's observations and recommendations will be included in a September 2010 report to the President Obama and federal agencies.  (September 2010)

AUGUST 2010:

An extensive article on the redevelopment of Southwest Center City—its history and its transformation—is part of the link and pdf below.  The work by Econsult’s Kevin Gillen is mentioned.
   South By Southwest: How Center City's Relentless Expansion Remade a Historic Neighborhood
   http://planphilly.com/south-by-southwest-how-center-citys-relentless-expansion-remade-historic-neighborhood

iMEGA commissioned an economic development study by Econsult to provide a conservative baseline projection of the economic benefits for an in-state only on-line gambling system, as well as a baseline should New Jersey establish itself as the hub for the industry nationally and internationally.  A brief article about former NJ governor supporting the system appears at Gambling.com.
   Former New Jersey Governor Endorses Sports Betting
   http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/former-new-jersey-governor-endorses-sports-betting-081610.html

Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Joseph N. DiStefano talks about Econsult’s draft report written on behalf of the City of Philadelphia regarding the Business Privilege Tax.  Led by Stephen Mullin, Econsult Senior Vice President and Principal  (August 15, 2010).   
   PhillyDeals: Looking at Other Ways to Tax City Businesses

Econsult Corporation and Fairmount Capital Advisors, Inc. have joined forces in a new venture known as The Econsult/Fairmount Group.  

The combined organization is a marriage of two elite firms that have worked both together and separately on many of the most significant public projects and private ventures in Greater Philadelphia. The Econsult/Fairmount Group will offer its clients a comprehensive menu of economic consulting and financial advisory services. (August 12, 2010)
   Press Release (August 12, 2010)
   Website of Fairmount Capital Advisors, Inc.

Kevin Gillen, Ph.D., talks with Wall Street Journal writer A.D. PRUITT about Philadelphia condo sales.   See full article below.   (Wednesday, August 11, 2010). 
   A Sluggish Philadelphia Story

Econsult’s Philadelphia Housing Price Indices for Q2 2010, prepared by Vice President Kevin Gillen, were released August 10, 2010 and are available at http://www.econsult.com/2010_Q2.htm. Previously published indices and reports are available at http://www.econsult.com/quarterly_phila_house.htm.

David Crawford, Econsult President, talks briefly about employee benefits in today's economy with Philadelphia Daily News reporter Matt Flagenheimer who wrote about a wide range of such benefits in his article posted here. (August 8, 2010)
   Philly's Job Perks: Viagra, Tattoos, and Doggie Treats

Kevin Gillen, Ph.D., discussess his analysis of Philadelphia condo sales with Philadelphia Inquirer real estate writer Alan Heavens. Gillen says"...their disparate locations is one of the things that makes the number of second-quarter condo sales extraordinary." See full article below. (August 8, 2010)
   Condo Sales Booming Across Philadelphia

The PA Chapter of the American Planning Association , accepted Econsult’s Peter Angelides topic for a workshop to be presented at their 2010 Annual Conference in Lancaster, PA.  The workshop is titled:  “Drivers of Commercial Corridor Success: Lessons for Increasing Retail Performance.”  The workshop is scheduled for Tues, October 5, 2010, 4:00pm - 5:30pm.  More information on the conference can be obtained at their website:  http://planningpa.org/events_conference.shtml

JULY 2010:

Kevin Gillen talks at length with Yowei Shaw, of the Philadelphia City Newspaper, about the city of Philadelphia tax abatement for housing and how to spur low-income housing when developers can't break even. (July 15, 2010)
   The High Cost of Affordable Housing

The University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Urban Research (IUR) invited Richard Voith, Econsult Senior Vice President and Principal, to join a special category for Penn faculty—Penn IUR Faculty Fellows.  The designation of Faculty Fellow recognizes IUR’s most active faculty and is given to Dr. Voith for his contributions and participation in IUR activities.

Led by Stephen Mullin, Econsult Senior Vice President and Principal, the firm’s work on behalf of the City of Philadelphia regarding the Business Privilege Tax was cited in the Philadelphia Business Journal, Friday, July 09, 2010.
   City Tax Reforms in the Wind

JUNE 2010:

ECONSULT CORPORATION ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF SENIOR ADVISORS TO FIRM

Econsult is pleased to announce the appointment of 11 Senior Advisors to bolster the firm’s consulting capacity.  The Senior Advisors add complementary skill sets, and expand the firm's geographic and industry reach.  Utilizing Senior Advisors represents a non-exclusive affiliation designed to expand Econsult’s marketing capacity and breadth of consulting experience.  At thes same time, it enables the Advisors to pursue a wider range of business opportunities, backed by Econsult’s infrastructure and staff support.  Links to the full press release and other coverage follows.
   PRESS RELEASE
   Econsult Brings Out the Hired Guns (Philadelphia Business Journal, June 25, 2010)

Kevin Gillen, Econsult Vice President, talks with Alan Heavens about the change in size of new homes built from 2008 to 2009.  Philadelphia Inquirer, June 18, 2010.
   U.S. Average House Size Shrank in 2009

New York Times staff writer, Richard Pérez-Peña interviewed Econsult President, David Crawford, for an article appearing June 9, 2010 entitled:  BENEATH BUDGET NOISE IN NEW JERSEY, SOME CONSENSUS.  A link to this article appears below
   http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/nyregion/09njbudget.html?emc=eta1&pagewanted=print#

MAY 2010:

A report written by Econsult President David Crawford on the restructuring of the Pennsylvania Court Recording Offices, is mentioned in an article by staff writer Rich Cholodofsky of the Pittsburgh Tribute-Review (May 30, 2010).
   Pennsylvania Takeover of Row Offices Studied

Econsult’s study on behalf of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts is referenced in the Bucks County Courier Times.  The study focuses on the prothonotary's office and clerk of court's office and is part of the high court's statewide initiative to integrate county court offices into the Unified Judicial System.  Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille spoke with staff writer Peter Hall.  (May 17, 2010)
   State Court Could Take Over Two Row Offices

Econsult’s Philadelphia Housing Price Indices Report by Kevin Gillen for Quarter 1 of 2010 was released May 4, 2010 and is available at http://www.econsult.com/2010_Q1.htm. All reports are available at http://www.econsult.com/quarterly_phila_house.htm.

The report received various coverage from the news media. Links to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alan Heavens article, the Brownstoner web site and Jonathan Miller’s Matrix web site are below.
   March Home-sale Contracts Soar (Philadelphia Inquirer, May 5, 2010)
   http://philly.brownstoner.com/2010/05/report_re_market_down_11_from.php
   http://matrix.millersamuel.com/?p=8002

Kevin Gillen, Econsult Vice President, was interviewed by WHYY's Elizabeth Fiedler about the impact that the expiration of the federal homebuyer tax credit would have on both the local and national housing markets (April 29, 2010).

To listen to the podcast, or to see a transcript of the interview, see the links below.
   Link to Podcast of Interview with Elizabeth Fiedler
   Homebuyer Tax Credit Comes to a Close (pdf)

Econsult’s ongoing study of the Office of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania was noted in the Philadelphia Inquirer article about Mayor Nutter’s “move to abolish” the City office.  (April 28, 2010). 
   Nutter Moves to Abolish Clerk of Quarter Sessions Office

Kevin Gillen, Vice President of Econsult, talks with Solomon D. Leach of Metro US, about the Federal homebuyer tax credit deadline and how it may affect housing sales. (April 25, 2010).
   Time’s Almost Up for Homebuyer Tax Credit (Metro US, April 26, 2010)

Econsult’s ongoing budget analysis work on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, brought Stephen Mullin, Econsult Senior Vice President, to meet with council members and council President Anna Verna.  These meetings are part of the Philadelphia Inquirer article by Jeff Shields and Miriam Hill (April 25, 2010). 
   Council Sours on Sweet-Drink Tax, Trash Fee

Los Angeles Times quotes Dick Voith, Econsult Senior Vice President, about the current momentum in real estate sales (April 23, 2010)
   New Home Sales Jump in March

Econsult President Dr. David Crawford will be a member of the Faculty of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's 8th Annual Nonprofit Institute on May 18th in Philadelphia. He will be discussing the economics of reductions in force (RIFs) with emphasis on checking for disparate impacts on groups of employees defined by age, gender, race, ethnicity or disability.

Dr. Crawford's presentation will be one part of a full day program for lawyers advising nonprofit organizations, nonprofit executives, employees and volunteers, accountants, nonprofit board members, fundraisers and anybody who is thinking of starting up a nonprofit.
   Pennsylvania Bar Institute's 8th Annual Nonprofit Institute Brochure

Econsult prepared a report on the Economic Impact of the Civil War Road Show.  This show is a major initiative of Pennsylvania Civil War 150—a  statewide effort to coordinate events and marketing for the sesquicentennial.  The road show is comprised of a 53-foot expandable truck will traverse the state and visit all 67 counties over four years.  Econsult’s study is referenced in the following article from the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal (April 16, 2010)
   Central Pennsylvania coordinates for Civil War sesquicentennial

Econsult’s draft report to the City of Philadelphia on possible changes to the Business Privilege Tax is discussed in a post by Daily News columnist Catherine Lucey on April 14, 2010 and printed in a subsequent article April 15, 2010.
   Council Ponders Business Tax Changes
   Clarke: Tax cigars, chewing tobacco

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille was quoted by The Legal Intelligencer regarding the study by Econsult that the Court commissioned.  The study will examine the expansion of the unified judicial system by changing the operations of court clerks from operations run by independently elected officials, or county-level appointees, in charge of county employees to operations under the authority of the centralized state judiciary (April 13, 2010)
   Justices Consider Absorbing Clerks Into Statewide Judiciary

MARCH 2010: Stephen Mullin, Econsult Senior Vice President, is a member of the Advisory Board of Philadelphia 2035.  As part of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (PCPC) and Zoning Code Commission’s Integrated Planning and Zoning Process the Advisory Board consists of 30-plus leaders from the region. Philadelphia2035: The Comprehensive Plan (Phila2035) will envision a bright, sustainable future for Philadelphia, plan for it strategically, and set forth actions to ensure success. (March 2010) Econsult Corporation was retained by Mason-Dixon Resorts & Casino to conduct an economic impact analysis of the proposed Category 3 gaming facility in Adams County, PA. The report was released March 30, 2010. The full report, along with the press release from Mason-Dixon Resorts & Casino and articles appearing in the press are available at the links below.    Full report and press release, March 2010 Kevin Gillen, Econsult Vice President, spoke at a Building Industry Association event on the issue of why Philadelphia's high construction costs matter. The event promoted modular construction as one solution to Philadelphia's high costs of construction. The links below include an article by Alan J. Heavens, Philadelphia Inquirer real estate writer (March 29, 2010) and graphics presented at the March 23rd event.    Going modular to cut city construction costs    Presentation of Kevin Gillen made at “GOING MOD” March 23, 2010 (PDF file) Kevin Gillen is quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer saying "What makes a builder successful here is you have to be shrewd, patient, persistent, realistic, but most of all, local," all things that developer Carl Danoff is as written by Alan Heavens, Philadelphia Inquirer real estate writer. (March 26, 2010).    Developer Dranoff building on Past Success Kevin Gillen provides details of Philadelphia housing prices—their highs and lows relative to the rest of the country—in an article about how housing prices are stabilizing. He talks with Alan J. Heavens, Philadelphia Inquirer real estate writer, March 22, 2010.    In Phila. Area, Stable Home Prices March 22, 2010 Press Release: Econsult Corporation Will Conduct Workshop about Philadelphia Commercial Corridors. Hosted by LISC Philadelphia, April 14, 2010    PRESS RELEASE - March 22, 2010    Invitation and Registration Form, April 14, 2010 Workshop Stephen Mullin, Econsult Principal and Senior Vice President, talks with Jane M. Von Bergen Inquirer staff writer about the difficulty in estimating the impact on the economy in the Philadelphia region of overhauling health care in the United States. (March 21, 2010)    Will Obama's Health Bill Pay Off in Phila. Region? Kevin Gillen, Econsult Vice President, talks with Philadelphia Inquirer writer Alan J. Heavens about short sales in real estate transactions. (March 11, 2010)    Short sales become foreclosure alternative On March 2, Econsult President Dr. David Crawford addressed the first meeting of the New Jersey Council of Economic Advisors at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy (Princeton University). The meeting was attended by the New Jersey Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and several members of the Governor’s cabinet. See link for more information including the Presentation.    New Jersey Council of Economic Advisors, March 2010 Econsult Corporation and Digital Impact Group Release First U.S. Study Quantifying the Economic Impact of Digital Exclusion. See link for more information including the full report.    The Economic Impact of Digital Exclusion in the United States, March 2010 Stephen Mullin provides a brief comment on Philadelphia Budget in Metro US, March 3, 2010.    Fees Up, No More Cuts to Workforce FEBRUARY 2010: Econsult is part of a team headed by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia that has begun a first-of-its-kind assessment of the value of protected open space in the five counties of southeastern Pennsylvania. See http://planphilly.com/economy-league-launches-study-open-space for brief release. Kevin Gillen, Econsult Vice President, talks with Philadelphia Inquirer writer Jeff Shields about Mayor Nutter’s pilot tax plan. Mayor Nutter presented his plan in a speech before the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce yesterday. (February 17, 2010)    Nutter to Test Two New Business-tax Policies Stephen Mullin, provides some humor to the discussion about the impacts of the recent snow fall in the Philadelphia region. This time with Philadelphia Inquirer writers Harold Brubaker, Alan J. Heavens, Maria Panaritis, and Suzette Parmley. (February 14, 2010)    The Big Storm's Winners and Losers Stephen P. Mullin, Senior Vice President and Principal, spoke with Peter Van Allen, Staff Writer of the Philadelphia Business Journal about the major impact on the Philadelphia area’s economy due to the major snow storms of this past week. (February 12, 2010)    Plows and productivity: Assessing snow's economic impact on Philadelphia region JANUARY 2010: Econsult’s Philadelphia Housing Price Indices Report by Kevin Gillen for Quarter 4 of 2009 was released January 21, 2010 and is available at http://www.econsult.com/2009_Q4.htm. All reports are available at http://www.econsult.com/quarterly_phila_house.htm. Links to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alan Heavens article and Jonathan Miller’s Matrix web site are below.    Reports suggest housing market stabilizing (Jan 27, 2010)    Philadelphia-area existing-home sales down in December (Jan 26, 2010)    http://matrix.millersamuel.com/?p=7003 Stephen Mullin, Econsult Senior Vice President, is quoted by Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Miriam Hill about the potential impact of the Police, SEPTA and School District labor agreements on the City's remaining labor negotiations. (January 24, 2010)    Getting city raises in tough times